The following is a map unit description from the "Soil Survey of Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts (Peragallo, 1989)"
HaB-Haven slit loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This is a very deep, gently sloping, well drained soil in broad areas on plains and terraces along the Charles and Neponset Rivers. Areas of the soil are irregular in shape and range from 6 to 50 acres.
Typically, the surface layer is dark brown silt loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown very fine sandy loam in the upper part and light olive brown gravelly very fine sandy loam in the lower part. It is about 15 inches thick. The substratum is light olive brown, stratified very gravelly coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more. In some areas the substratum is very fine sandy loam or silt loam and permeability is slow.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of Merrimac soils in positions on the landscape similar to those of the Haven soil. Also included, in depressional areas, are small areas of Scio soils that have a seasonal high water table. The included areas make up about 15 percent of the map unit.
Soil properties:Permeability: Moderate in the
surface layer and the subsoil and very rapid in the
substratum.
Available water capacity: Moderate.
Soil reaction: Strongly acid to slightly acid
throughout.
Depth to bedrock: More than 60 inches.
Depth to the seasonal high water table: More
than 6 feet.
Hydrologic group: B.
Many areas of this soil are cultivated. Some areas are wooded, and some areas are used as individual homesites.
This soil is very well suited to cultivated crops, lawns, landscaping, gardens, and pasture. Irrigation may not be necessary in years when rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the growing season. Tillage operations that run on the contour or across the slope, crop rotations, and cover crops help to control erosion.
Potential productivity for eastern white pine on this soil is very high. The soil is easily managed for woodland use. Plant competition at regeneration is moderate if conifers are grown. Thinning crowded stands to accepted standard stocking levels allows more vigorous growth. Shelterwood cutting, seed-tree cutting, and clearcutting help to establish natural regeneration or to provide suitable planting sites. Removing or controlling competing vegetation allows best growth of newly established seedlings. Pruning helps to improve the quality of white pine.
This soil has no major limitations to building site development. Constructing roads on well compacted, coarse textured, base material helps to protect the pavement from damage by potential frost action. If the soil is used as sites for septic tank absorption fields, ground water pollution is a hazard. Because of very rapid permeability, the soil readily absorbs but does not adequately filter the effluent. Extensive grading is needed in preparing sites for small commercial buildings on this gently sloping soil.
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